The `Water for Elephants` actress - who has two children, Ava, 11, and Deacon, seven, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe - is looking forward to the holiday season as it gives her time to work on a shelter for her pets, including pigs Booker T. Washington and Lavender Valentine, goats George and Martha Washington and donkeys, Honky and Tonky.

She said: "I`m building a barn. I think it`s cool. I really do have animal friends, I have donkeys, I have goats, I have pigs.

"I wanted the donkeys to be called Honky Tonk and Badonkadonk but the kids weren`t so into it. They didn`t know what `badonkadonk` meant. So apparently I am doing some good parenting.

"Do I milk them? No. The goats are kind of worthless. They`re pretty nasty and don`t do anything. But I have chickens and they provide eggs."

Badonkadonk is an American slang term used to describe an extremely curvaceous, voluptuous and bouncy female behind, which usually belongs to a woman with a small waist.

As well as building a barn, Reese - who is now in a relationship with Hollywood agent Jim Toth - is looking forward to welcoming her extended family for the holidays.

She told TV talk show host Chelsea Handler: "I`ll just be hanging out with my kids and I?ll be cooking, my whole family is coming in from Tennessee, which will be fun."
sections: Celebrities